Hirosi Ooguri elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences

April 26, 2016
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has elected Hirosi Ooguri, Principal Investigator of the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU) Principal Investigator and Fred Kavli Professor at California Institute of Technology, as a member of its 236th class, announced on April 20.

Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center, and one of the oldest and most prestigious honorary societies in the United States. The Academy recognizes accomplished scholars, scientists and artists in academia, the humanities, arts, business and government. Past members include first US President George Washington, philosopher and physician Albert Schweitzer, physicist Albert Einstein and former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Ooguri is the second researcher from Kavli IPMU to become a member, following Director Hitoshi Murayama, who was elected in 2013.

The Academy elected 213 new members this year, including mathematician and Fields Medalist Andrei Okounkov, former Botswanan President Festus Mogae, animal scientist and world-renowned autism spokesperson Temple Grandin, Aspen Institute President Walter Isaacson, and jazz musician Wayne Shorter.

“I was surprised when I landed at the Boston Airport and found that my email inbox was overflowing with congratulatory emails from existing members. I am honored and delighted to join the Academy and will work harder to contribute to the advancement of physics.” said Ooguri.

Ooguri and the other new academy members will be inducted at an October 8 ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts.